For Andi Dunn, upholding Catholic Social Teaching runs in the family. The daughter of St. Theresa School in Little Rock’s principal Kristy Dunn, the 20-year-old is an intern at Catholic Charities of Arkansas. She is currently pursuing a bachelor’s in public administration and a double minor in Spanish and philosophy at the University of Central Arkansas.
“Working here, I have so many more people my age who work down there that I could talk to about faith and about my struggles,” she said.
Dunn works with many young Catholics, not just at Catholic Charities, but in faith formation and religious education at St. Theresa Church. She has seen firsthand the drive and passion of young Catholics and the Church’s future.
“It makes me really sad when I see those reports that say the Church is dying, because it’s not. I see it everywhere — I see it at Catholic Charities, where everyone I talk to, they care so much about so many things. I think it’s that passion for helping people. I don’t think that goes away in any of us. I think our faith pulls us there even more.”
Her work at Catholic Charities and her upbringing in a family that cares deeply about Catholic Social Teaching and education have led Dunn to “remember the stranger” in everything that she does — which has led to living a life of action, amplifying her faith.
“Really, it’s the act along with your faith. You could say you believe in God, but if you don’t follow it out with acts, it’s not going to come through. So it’s getting to do that work of working with refugees and working with clients and having them feel that love and that faith as well, sharing that love with them really brought me back into it — this really is the true thing. It was much deeper than it had ever been.”
What is the best piece of advice that you have ever received?
“My favorite thing, and I tell people this all the time, is that it’s better to be kind than nice. Being nice does not necessarily mean helping someone.”
